Vast deserts and arid plains stretch for thousands of
kilometres before ending abruptly at the foot of towering mountain ranges. This
region is one of the most interesting in China, packed with history, ethnic
variety, superb landscapes and vibrant Central Asian culture.

Beautifully situated along the Mekong River banks, most of Southern Laos
villages offer fascinating glimpses into traditional river-style village life.
Currently online are pictures of Pakse and Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands).

A thousand shades of blue. The Maldives is often called 'the last paradise on
earth' and offers indeed all the right ingredients: pristine tropical islands
with waying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons.

The Golden Land, a country of glittering pagodas, iridescent rice fields and
peaceful monks. A country where the curse of modernization has barely made an
imprint and the serenity of the past can be quietly savored in the present.

There are few historical sites in Asia that can match the grandeur of the temples of Angkor. But Cambodia has more to offer than Angkor Wat alone. From splendid Phnom Penh to the isolated
jungle villages of remote Mondulkiri. From rare dolphins in the Mekong River to the empty beaches
at Sihanoukville.

Shangri-la, the Land of Snows, the roof of the world: for
centuries the mysterious Buddhist kingdom of Tibet, locked away in its mountain
fastness of the Himalaya, has exercised a unique hold on the imagination of the
West.